Be it pedagogy, advocacy, or promotion of dance, NDS members make important contributions to the discipline. NDS is pleased to recognize the following individuals for their contributions to the field of dance.

Dance Legacy Award

The 2016 Dance Legacy Award honoree is Dr. Kathleen Kinderfather. This is the National Dance Society’s (NDS) highest award for exemplary, lifetime contributions of national or international significance to dance, dance education, the arts, and NDS. The awardee shall have provided meritorious service to NDS, other dance organizations, dance education, or to the dance field in general.

Dance Honor Award

The 2016 Dance Honor Award honoree is Dr. Sandra Weeks. This award recognizes dance educators who demonstrate distinguished service to dance, dance education, and NDS. The service may be in teaching, administration, leadership, research, pedagogy publications, choreography/creative activities, professional presentations, or mentoring. ​

P-12 Master Dance Educator Award

The 2016 P-12 Master Dance Educator of the Year Award honoree is Valerie A. Winborne. This award recognizes excellence in dance education of dance professionals who are employed full time at a school or in a school district and who devotes minimally 50% of his or her teaching time to dance education. ​

College/University Master Dance Educator Award

The 2016 College/University Master Dance Educator Award honoree is Christine Bergeron. This award recognizes excellence of dance professionals who are employed at a college or university. The nominee may demonstrate distinction in curriculum design, teaching methodology, choreography, understanding cultural heritage, role modeling, student dance appreciation, student performance, or professional leadership.

Global Dance Educator Award

The 2016 Global Dance Educator Award honoree is Dr. Tarin Hampton. ​ This award recognizes dance educators who have made meaningful contributions supporting dance internationally. The contributions and service in other cultures may involve: increasing knowledge of global dance to students, increasing the involvement of dance educators in learning about global dance, increasing international communication among dance educators, or providing international services to dancers.

Dance Promotion in the Community Award

The 2016 Dance Promotion in the Community Award honorees are Autumn Belk and Sharon Rae Snowden. ​ ​This award recognizes dance educators who have made outstanding contributions to dance outside of the P-12 schools or college/university settings at the local, state, or national levels. The contributions may be in some of the following categories: dance promotion; teaching excellence; choreography; performance; or leadership in establishing, maintaining, or managing dance projects, events, and programs. The nominee may be recognized for work accomplished through a variety of settings, such as studios, leisure and recreation programs, faith-based environments, or specific culturally-based programs

Dance Scholar Award

The 2016 Dance Scholar Award honoree is Dr. Gayle Kassing. This award recognizes dance educators who have been and are producing scholarly/creative works of significance at the community, state, regional, national, or international levels in dance research, evaluation, professional writing, choreography, or other dance works. ​

Young Dance Professional Award

The 2016 Young Dance Professional Award honoree is Alexandra Pooley. This award recognizes dance educators who are 30 years of age (or younger) and employed full time in a school, a school district, or an institution of higher education. The dance educator devotes minimally 50% of his or her teaching time to dance education.